Niseko Now: Tuesday 3rd January 2023
- Jan 3, 2023
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 20cm
Snowfall at base this season 403cm
Posted on Tuesday 3rd January 2023 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
It is another (very) cold morning here, and I have another 20cm of beautiful fresh snowfall to report. Wrap up to venture out for some very fine conditions out there. Though visibility is limited and that care I was talking about still needs to be taken.
Annupuri continue their gradual march towards being fully open with the opening of the Fukayukirinkan (Deep Snow Forest) course. And I think that means that Annupuri is now, indeed, fully open (weather permitting). They were planning on having their 'first run' operations over New Year but that didn't happen due to windy conditions. They are planning on that happening on 7th, 8th and 9th January. I'll mention more in a few days.
As of 8:30am, the Annupuri Gondola is on hold due to wind conditions. Other lifts are opening as planned, but there may be disruptions.
If you are one of the naughty people who missed the report yesterday (with some thoughts on the season-so-far), I forgive you. You can find it here.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base -11℃, 30cm of heavy wind-affected snowfall. Moiwa800m: -12.8℃, SW10.5m/s. Annupuri1100m: -16℃, WNW7.3m/s, large snowdrift development, difficult to groom. Mizuno no Sawa top: -14.5℃, NNW4.9m/s. Hanazono1000m: -15.4℃, SW3.5m/s, 30cm snowfall with snowdrifts. Coastal data: Benkei cape NW17m/s, Kamui cape W10m/s, 1012hPa, 3.3m waves.
A strong westerly wind continues to blow up high, bringing in cold air. Heavy snowfall and snowdrifts are developing big. The avalanche risk remains high in all elevations. Avalanches of 120cm crown, 120km/h speed and running for 500m are expected in leeward slopes above 900m elevation. The new snowpack consists of high density wind-drifts of firm snow particles. This type of snow is likely to surface slab slide, not only at knolls and steep slopes, but in the tree-runs too. Caution is required when riding soft slabbed slopes below the ridge line or sidewalls. The wind is forecasted to calm down by noon and the gondola might start running, but please refrain from entering Yu no Sawa (strictly off-limits) and/or O-sawa (Annupuri bowl), or access Haru no Taki (strictly off-limits) area by ducking Mizuno no Sawa (controlled area) ropes. You may never come back. Gates opening is not decided at this stage. Please respect the ski patrol’s instructions. The slopes have been reset and in good shape. Have you switched your beacon on? Have a nice day.
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Ski area information for Tuesday 3rd January 2023
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day, weather permitting.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 25cm
- Base: 25cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 275cm (+5cm since yesterday)
- Base: 115cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Family quad [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) [* open until for 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Ace Number 3 pair
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 30cm
- Base: 30cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 210cm (+15cm since yesterday)
- Base: 178cm (+13cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 140cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 120cm (no change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola ON HOLD
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open until 7:30pm for night skiing]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 3 pair [* open on weekends and holidays]
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 0cm (huh?, again)
- Base: 0cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 125cm (no change since yesterday)
- Base: 115cm (+5cm since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Banzai Chair [* open until 7:00pm for night skiing]
- Wonderland Chair
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift
- Number 2 pair lift
- Quad lift
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Tuesday 3rd January 2023 Total snowfall at base so far 403cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 35 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 22cm (2nd January) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 336cm reported on 27 days January 2023 snowfall 50cm reported on 3 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.